Lengthy queues at Home Affairs leave citizens despondent
Pensioners queued outside the Richards Bay office as early as 6am and by 8am the line had spiraled into the nearby shopping centre.
LONG queues have been observed at the Department of Home Affairs in Richards Bay and Empangeni, which have been inundated with citizens applying for the new smart card identity documents.
Last week, pensioners were queuing outside the Richards Bay office as early as 6am and by 8am the line had spiraled into the nearby shopping centre.
During an interview with some of the senior citizens, they said they travelled from outlining areas such as KwaMsane, eSikhaleni, KwaMbonambi and Dondota to apply for the new identity cards after being told they will not be able to access their grants without it.
‘We have to travel for two days sometimes, because the queues are so long and we sit outside for hours. It is tiring as we suffer with chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
‘Why can’t the department visit our rural communities and service the elderly at their homes.’
‘They want us to have these cards but it is such a long and tiring process.’
Validity
Meanwhile the Department of Home Affairs uThungulu District Manager: Operations Sikhosiphi Dlamini said since the beginning of the year the offices have noted a disconcerting and worrying phenomenon of extremely high numbers of pensioners coming to apply for smart ID cards.
‘When we enquired about this, we were told the same story of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) not recognising the green bar-coded identity documents.’
Dlamini said the old green bar-coded identity document remains a valid form of identity in the Republic of South Africa until the Minister of Home Affairs decides otherwise.
‘It is putting a lot of pressure on all our smart ID cards offices, as the uThungulu, Empangeni and eShowe have limited staff, office accommodation space and equipment.
‘Also, the fact that most of the applicants are pensioners makes it hard to prioritise them as the system does not allow for prioritisation of the elderly, disabled and pregnant women and this creates an impression that we are uncaring, insensitive public servants.’
He said they understood there were also risks involved as some of these pensioners are diabetic and they are also exposed to heat, rain and cold.
‘I have suggested to the acting Provincial Manager of Home Affairs to convene an urgent meeting with SASSA to discuss the matter.’
With regards to the mobile offices, Dlamini said they have not been upgraded to take applications for the smart ID cards.
